Ithaca College

Wednesday, May 20, 2015, 10:00 11:45 a.m., Limited to the first 20 registrants
With Sheri Englund of Englund Literary Services

If you will be spending this summer preparing a book manuscript, it’s not too soon to think about approaching publishers. Is your manuscript ready? How can you create and narrow a list of suitable presses? And what will you need to do to introduce acquisitions editors to your manuscript—and seize their interest?

This workshop will deliver the key know-how and strategies that new authors need to approach presses. We will discuss acquisitions editors and what they look for, book proposals and writing samples, submission strategies, and the peer review process. Through guided writing exercises and group brainstorming, you will work with colleagues to complete a polished “elevator speech” about your book project, an important step toward an effective book proposal.

There will be plenty of time for questions, and you will leave the session with a carefully crafted, marketable description of your project and a clear understanding of how to craft a complete, effective book proposal. 

Note: This session lays the groundwork for additional faculty development opportunities through the summer. Faculty who register, prepare for, and attend the May workshop will be eligible to apply for individual on-campus consultations with Sheri Englund, funded by the Center for Faculty Excellence.

Dr. Sheri Englund owns and operates Englund Literary Services, a freelance editorial business specializing in nonfiction in the social sciences and humanities. A former Ivy League acquisitions editor, Englund is a seasoned publishing professional who has worked directly with writers for twenty years. She is one of only a handful of editors in the nation currently offering formal advice on scholarly book proposals. Read more about Englund Literary Services.

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Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Laurie Wasik at wasik@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-3734. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.